HC Deb 07 November 1940 vol 365 cc1433-4
58. Mr. Keeling

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Air-Raid Precautions Department of the Home Office is inaccessible by telephone throughout the period of an air-raid warning, even when no aircraft are overhead; and whether he will give directions to remedy this?

Mr. H. Morrison

The hon. Member's statement is true only as regards one of the four buildings occupied by the Ministry of Home Security. In that building the telephone room is in an exposed position on the top floor: there is no basement for shelter and the staff cannot safely continue at work after an alert. Arrangements are in progress for housing them elsewhere, but in the meantime, special arrangements have been made to secure attention to telephone inquiries.